All Applicants:

Attention Category 3A Only and Category 3B Only Pesticide Applicators and Technicians:
Article 33 has recently been amended as part of the 2018 New York State Budget. These amendments will affect your fee at your next renewal or recertification. Please read the NOTICE (PDF, 63KB) for details on how the changes will be implemented.

Important NYSDMV Requirement! All certified applicators and technicians are required to have a photograph on file with the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles (NYSDMV) in order to receive their pesticide photo identification card. If you do not currently have a photo on file with the NYSDMV, please visit NYSDMV Requirements for Proof of Identity and Date of Birth to ensure that you meet their requirements prior to visiting a NYSDMV office to have your photo captured. Once you are confident that you have the necessary documents required by NYSDMV, please print out the NYSDMV form for Request for Photo Image (PDF - 150 KB) and bring it with you to the DMV office. Photographs taken at the NYSDMV solely for the purpose of attaining pesticide certification will be taken free of charge.

Eligibility Requirements

An individual must meet at least one or more of the following eligibility requirements to become a certified commercial pesticide applicator:

one year of verifiable experience as a technician with an additional 12 hours of category-specific recertification training; or

two years of verifiable experience as a technician; or

three years of verifiable full-time experience as an apprentice working in the category or categories in which the individual is seeking certification; or

three years of verifiable experience as a certified private applicator in a corresponding private category; or

certification in another state that New York State has reciprocity; or

three years experience in the sale of pesticides or industrial chemicals, or can otherwise demonstrate, through applicable training certificates or educational degrees, that the individual possesses appropriate technical background, as determined by the department, if seeking pesticide applicator certification in the Sales Category.

NOTE: All of the above experience and/or training must have been earned within the last five years to meet the eligibility requirements. All verifiable experience letters must be signed in the presence of a notary public by both the individual seeking applicator certification and their supervising applicator. With the exception of reciprocity, all applicants must also successfully pass the core and appropriate category examination(s).

An individual shall be eligible for private applicator certification if that individual has met the following experience and/or training requirements and has successfully passed the necessary examinations.

The applicant must be at least 17 years of age at the time of application; and

have at least one year of full-time experience within the last three years in the use of pesticides in the category or categories that the individual is seeking certification; or

have completed a comprehensive 30-hour training course, approved by the department; or

have received an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university which covers the topics listed in Section 325.18, and related categories in Sections 325.16 or 325.17; or

have one year of verifiable experience as a commercial applicator in a corresponding commercial category.

Individuals must also pass the core and appropriate category examination(s).

Category/subcategory for the Control of Stinging Insects in the Ground, Trees and Shrubs

The Department has issued a clarification regarding the appropriate pesticide applicator certification category/subcategory for the control of bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and other stinging insects nesting in the ground, trees and shrubs. For details, please see the letter from the Pesticide Reporting and Certification Section regarding nesting stinging insects (PDF, 71 KB), which explains this clarification.

Training manuals can be found by clicking the Pesticide Applicator Training Manuals link found in the right column of this page. Please visit the NYSPAD portal and click on Courses for assistance in locating training courses to fit your individual needs. Department approved distance learning courses, those courses given on-line or through CD ROM, can be used to meet the training requirements.

Every applicator is required to either submit recertification training credits at the end of their certification cycle or take a recertification examination. Individuals can visit the NYSPAD portal to view their recertification date(s) or upcoming courses available.

Please Note: An individual should only take a particular course once within a twelve month period. Any course taken more than once within twelve months of each other, will only be counted once and the repeat(s) will be disregarded. Private applicators cannot earn all of their recertification credits in one calendar year, ONLY commercial applicators on a three year certification cycle can do so.

Exams

Pesticide applicator examinations are conducted through our Regional Offices. Examination schedules may be viewed by visiting the NYSPAD portal. Applicator ID cards are processed by the Albany Office, telephone number (518) 402-8748.

Certification Fees

Certification Type

Category

Cost

Card Term

Exam Fee

All

$100

N/A

Commercial Technician

Any 1 Category

$450

3 years

Commercial Applicator

First/Only Category

$450

3 years

Each additional category

$150

3 years

Aquatic Anti-Fouling Paint Applicator

13

$450

3 years

Private Applicator (Only/Primary)

Any private category

$ 25

5 years

Private Applicator (Secondary, same farm or agricultural business)

$ 5

Pesticides Updates Listserv

To sign up for Pesticides Updates, subscribe to GovDelivery! This will take you to the "Quick Subscription" page where you will see all the topics that you can receive email updates on from DEC. Scroll to the "Prevent and Control Pollution" category and check the box next to "Pesticides." You will receive a welcome email from DEC confirming your subscription(s).